Born in Middlesex, London, in 1798, Henry Collen received a formal artistic training at the Royal Academy Schools from September 1820, although he had been a pupil of the painter George Hayter as early as 1819. It was through Hayter that Collen was first introduced in court circles. By 1835 Collen had been made Miniature Painter to the Duchess of Kent and the Princess Victoria, and his appointment as 'Miniature Painter to Her Majesty' on 16 August 1837 followed Queen Victoria's accession. He developed a distinguished clientele, but at the apogee of his career as a miniature painter he went into business with W.H. Fox Talbot, the inventor of the calotype process, becoming the first professional calotypist in London. The venture may not have been successful, for he exhibited miniatures at the RA throughout this period and continued to do so until 1872. He died aged eighty-one at 15 Portland Place, Brighton, on 8 May 1879.

Collen's miniature is after the full-length portrait by George Hayter of 1837 – 8 showing the Queen seated in Coronation robes (Guildhall Art Gallery, London). An oil copy of the head intended by Hayter to be used as a basis for enamel copies by William Essex, but quite possibly also used by Collen to produce this miniature, is in the Royal Collection (406700).

Signed, dated and inscribed on the reverse in ink by the artist: 1838. / Painted by Henry Collen / Miniature Painter to / The Queen / and H.R.H. The Duchess of / Kent. / 37 Somerset Street / Portman Square / London.